It's all in the biscuits -At 84, Connie Bicknese of Wykoff is proud to be known as the biscuit lady.
Her mother's biscuit recipe has been eaten by thousands since the Wykoff United Methodist Church women have held the Chicken Pie Dinner each April since 1959. She even uses the same bowl her mother did all those years ago when she makes the biscuits.
"My mother perfected that recipe with a friend of hers, Vera," said Connie. The secret ingredient is non-rendered lard, something not found in many places nowadays. Today, Connie has her daughter, Marilyn Erdman, and daughter-in-law Dianne Bicknese helping out at the meal, held this year on Wednesday, April 25 at the Wykoff Community Center. The weather cooperated and brought over 200 people this year, greeted by chickens and roosters of all sorts adorning the stairs, outside landing and tables inside.
Jettison back five decades ago when the Methodist men and women would go out to a local farm, herd up and load chickens in crates and bring them into town, where Mrs. Miller would cut their heads off and the rest would scald, pluck, bag and freeze the birds for the dinner, which was held within a couple weeks of the chore. "Back then it would take two days to get the birds and food ready for the dinner," said Connie. "The younger women of the church thought that was too much work, but the older women didn't want to change it. A few years of doing it the hard way gave way to buying the chickens." Last year was the first time the group bought the meat and gravy for the event, with workers getting older and scarce. "This year's (chicken and gravy) were very good," she said. I would agree!
About six women cook up all the food - only Connie makes the biscuits. Many people have confused the dinner to chicken and biscuits, but she explained the process. "We put the (unmade) biscuits on top of the chicken and gravy and bake them for about an hour. Had some ministers and people we've had to explain to them it's not chicken and gravy over biscuits - they're cooked together. Along with mashed potatoes, coleslaw, buttered buns, cranberry sauce and your choice of cake, the $8 meal fills up the hungriest of those attending.
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| Connie Bicknese, Ruth Link, Irene Jacobson and Dianne Bicknese, serving up Chicken Pie Dinner. |
Money raised goes for church functions - wherever the need. "It started out as just our women's group but now the men are involved, helping us out," she added. Something additional, there is take-out service for the meal as well. Last year they served close to 50 people this way.
She took home just a gallon bag of chicken/gravy mixture this year, meaning the women got the planning down pat. "It depends on the weather, too, how many people come," she added.
Connie was born and raised in the Wykoff area and along with her husband, Bill, live in town now. On the trip down from Faribault, farmers were taking to the field - getting ready for another spring planting season. Just east of Spring Valley is Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery, as well as a huge white barn that looked suited to fill up with antiques. Just before turning into Wykoff from Hwy. 16 to Hwy. 80 was a biggest concrete Holstein bull I've ever seen on the Boettcher family dairy farm. It was another successful drive - about 1 1/2 hours from Faribault - through Minnesota farm country.
At my table, were five delightful women from Spring Valley and Lanesboro, taking in their annual chicken pie dinner. There never were more accommodating and friendly people to sit by, as they reminisced with me about previous dinners, other local church functions in the area and their favorite stories of the day.Connie was more than glad to share her tales of the Chicken Pie Dinner over the years, and thankful she's been a part of it. "I'm not sure how much longer I'll be doing it, I am the oldest right now."
And not missing a beat.
Connie shared her biscuit recipe, but be warned, it's for huge crowds, so you may want to quarter it down:
8 cups of flour
1/2 cup lard (home rendered lard)
12 tsp baking powder
1 tsp. salt
4 gallons of milk
"This makes 5 bowls, three times," said Connie. "Just stir in the milk to the same consistency and thickness, don't want it too runny but if I do, I just add a little more flour."
Thanks Connie and Wykoff United Methodist Church for the great meal and fellowship!
Upcoming Functions:
4 --gallons-- of milk? Are you absolutely sure?
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